Ring inserter



l Jan. 7, 1941.` F. JAMxsoN RING INSERTER l Filed April 27, 195e .E'EJ-LNVENTOR. YMLL//m E Jam/.som

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 A y 2,227,857 i y Y l RING INSERT-int l .i WilliamF. Jamison, Santa Bal'lia'nft,y Calif.A y Application April 27, 1938,SerialNo. 204,583-

4 Claims.

, My invention relates to mechanism for insertvto the operation of thedevice.

ing rings in hollow resilient objects.

One application for my invention is in the repair of damaged re hose.After removing the damaged portion, it becomes necessary to insert aring within the end of a hose; l

Another object of my invention is to' provide ring inserting mechanismwhich functions by its connection to the hose alone and without anyexternal lonigtudinal forcing means.

It is also an object of my invention to draw the device into the hose bymeans of grip rollers which roll on a spiral on the inner surface of thehose.

Another object of'my invention is' toprovide a device for insertingthering which willexpand the hose away from the leading edge of the ringas the ring is drawn into the hose. y

A further object of my invention is`to varrange a device with rollersradiallyadjustable sothat the rollers may be freely inserted orwithdrawn from the hose as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which willaccomplish its purpose speedily and expeditiously without the exerciseof pro;

j fessional skill or damage to hose or couplings. l

I'he above objects are accomplished by a meche anism having a frame witha pluralityof traction rollers, set at an angle to the axis of the hoseand adapted to be expanded into contact with thelate ter. Thus, uponrotation of the frame, a Vring secured to the frame is pulled into theend of the hose coincident with the inward travel of th tractionrollers. j

Inthe drawing: f y Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section ofthe device whennot inuse;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a-portion of the device at thecompletion of an inserting operation; and y l Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of a portion device. f

, 'I'he drawing illustrates `a preferred embodiment of my invention, inwhich a shaft 6 has a threaded portion 'l of a length suitably adapted Adisc 'has a of the (ci. esi- 882) f hole 9 at its 'center through whichtheshort threaded portion VII of shaft 6 extends. The nut I2 holds disc8' rigidly in place on shaft 6 against.

the. shoulder I3; A key such as I0 may be used to more vfirmly` securedisc 8l from turning on shaftl.` .l f

Knurled grip rollers` I4 are ymounted for rotation about theirlongitudinal axes between the disc 8 and'a ring I6. The ring I 6 isrigidly supportedV a :suitable distance from disc 8 to containtherollers I4 therebetween by spacers I'l. Greater rigidity and strengthmay be obtained by providing a spacer Il' between each successive rollerI4. .Thering lli may be rigidly supported on the spacers Il by passingthe ends ofthe spacers through holes such as I8` and I9 near theperiphery of the ring Iii and disc 8 respectively to which they Vareriveted.

Y The rollers I4 have their leading or forward ends rotativelysupportedin the disc 8 near its periphery at a fixed distance from the axis ofthe shaft 6. vA desirable way to accomplish this is by means of balls'23 seatedinclosely tting sockets 26 indisc 8 andcapped bythe closefitting sockets 24Iinlthe endsof'rollers I4. z l j The trailing endsofthe rollers.` I4, preferably spherical in shape, are adapted torotatefreely in the bearinggrooves A 25 and also to slide radiallytherein,` being therebyxoutwardly adjustable with respecttothe axis ofthe shaft 5. The length of grooves 25 is suilcient to allow the maximumdesirable adjustment ofrollers I4.

In order to accomplishfone of their functions, the rollers I4aredisposedbetween the ring I6 and-the disc 8 with their axes at alltimes tangent to a spiral whose axis coincides withthe axis of theshaftf. In other words.; iorfthe traction rollers -to impartv thenecessary forward movef ment to the ring insertenthey must` be mountedslightly askew. In this manner they feed their-` way insidetheltioseypulling with them the Whole mechanism. l p f In order that la suitablenumber' of rollers I4 may be usedit is desirable to arrange the spacersIl so that their axes liejsubstantially parallel to the axesoftherollers` I 4. l j i A shoulder 2l on the shaft: 6 provides anconvenientretainer for a thrust bearing 28, the latter'v serving to-leave therollercage free for rotation'around the spreader with the minimum of iresistance.

On the threaded portion l of shaft 6 is a thrust nut 129 internallythreaded through itscenter at 32 to receive the threads `.of thethreaded portion 'L ofthe shaft G and adapted to be-turned to any Thebushing 36 also has an inwardly extendingy flange 38. i

A bushing 43 which is smooth bored through its center at 44 to slide andturn on shaft 6, extends -through the flanged portion of collar 36. The

bushing 43 having an outwardly extending flange;

42 in engagement behind the flange 38 is thereby held againstlongitudinal movement along shaft 6 except by adjustment of thrust nut29.

It is preferable to leave the bushing 43 freely rotatable on the shaft6. For this purpose suitable bearing clearances are provided between theadjacent surfaces at 40, 39, 31 and 4I.

A spreader 41, preferably tubular in form, is internally threaded at oneend and is carried at that end by the bushing 43 being rigidly securedthereon by means of the tapering threads 46 or other suitable means.Spreader tube 41 is slidably and rotatably supported at its opposite endon shaft 6 as 'by a 'bushing 49. y

The end of the spreader 41 is tapered at 50 to an angle which ispreferably substantially tangent 30.to the surfaces of the rollers I4when in their outermost operative or gripping position.

The diameter of the spreader 41 at the tip 52 is such as to underlie therollers I4 when the rollers are at their inmost position, therebyperggmi-tting entrance of the spreader beneath the ends of the rollersI4.

It is desirable to have end surface 55 of spreader 41 smooth andparallel with the surface 30 of the thrust bearing 28 so as to have fullface con- 4Q tact therewith when spreader 41 is seated against bearing28.

Intermediate the ends of spreader 41 are the studs 5| rigidly attachedto tube 41 in any suitable manner as by a threaded portion 52 andprefer- 45- ably removable for repairs or change of size to accommodatevarious sizes or types of inserts. It is desirable that there be atleast three of these studs, spaced equally around the spreader tube 41.The surfaces 53 of the studs 5I lie 59,'. parallel to and equidistantfrom the axis of shaft 6 and may be cylindrical in form. Surfaces '54are arranged radially and in a common plane perpendicular to the axis ofshaft 6. The radial lengths of the surfaces 54 are preferably slightly55 less than the thickness of the insert which is t0 be installed inplace by the device.

A lock nut 56 on threaded shaft portion 1 provides suitable means forlocking the thrust nut 29 and spreader tube 41 in any desirable opera-60 tive position.

A convenient handle 51 rigidly mounted as by a pin 58 on the end of theportion 1 of shaft 6 provides suitable means with which to rotate thedevice when inserting the ring in the hose. p

65 As a means of describing the operation of the disclosed device,assume that it is desired to in stall a coupling on the end of a pieceof fire hose. The end of the hose 60 is rst trimmed, then inserted inthe coupling 6I (see Fig. 2). A metal 7C insert or ring 62 is thenplaced within the hose and expanded to clamp the hose within the end ofthe coupling. The purpose of my device is to provide convenient andexpedient mechanical means for placing the insert or ring 62 in the 75end of the hose prior to the expanding operation.

l8. Under certain conditions the spreader 41 4r To use my device, adjustthe parts to the position shown in Fig. 1. Pass the rollers I4 throughthe metal ring 62 to be inserted in the hose and move the ring back overthe surfaces 53 of the studs 5I until the end of the ring is seatedagainst 5 the surfaces 54. Then introduce the device, roller end first,inside the end of the hose. Next expand the rollers I4 outward to thepoint where they grip the hose. This is accomplished by turning nut 29by means of handle 3l in the 10 proper direction to force the spreader41 under rollers I4. Its tapered end 50 is adapted to swing the rollersoutwardly in the radial slots 25 until they contact the inner walls ofhose 60 with considerable pressure. 15

It is preferable that spreader 41 be inserted under rollers I4 until itseats against bearing 28. Then turn locking device 55 down tightlyagainst nut 29. The device is now in proper operative adjustment. f 20As previously described, the rollers I4 are positicned between disc 8and ring I6 with their longitudinal axes tangent to a spiral about shaftTherefore, as the frame carrying rollers I4 is rota-ted by means ofhandle 51 on shaft 6, the 25 device is drawn into the hose, forcing theinsert 62 into place.

Inthe case of an elastic tube such as a hose, the rollers I 4 are sokarranged that when exsanded Withiny the hose they cause it to bulge sothat near the leading end of the insert 62 the inside diameter of thehose is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the insert, withthe result that the insert is provided free entry into the hose and isprevented from scraping` it.

The desirability of a thrust bearing 23 interposed between disc 8 andthe end surface 55 of `the spreader 41 resides in the fact thatas thedevice is rotated to draw the insert into a tube or hose, there will berolling of the grip rollers I4 on the surface 50. Due to the angularsetting of rollers I4, there Willfbe axial sliding of the rollers on thetapered surface 59 in a direction tending to force the end toward thedisc would be thrust .against disc 8 with a pressure that might bedestructive in the absence of proper lubrication. rThis danger isentirely eliminated and the device adapted `to be more freely turned byuse of the thrust bearing 28. 50

To remove the device after the insert Sfvis in place, turn lock nut 56away from thrust nut 29 to a position adjacent handle `51. Then turn thethrust nut 29 in the proper direction to withdraw the `spreader 41 to aposition clear of the 55 rollers I4. The trailing end of the rollers I4will then slide in the radial bearing grooves 25 toward the shaft 6,permitting them to pass through the insert 62y and enabling the operatorto withdraw the device from the hose coupling.

It is hereby understood that the scope of my inventiony is broadlycommensurate with the principle of operation of the device'herein dis-yclosed, which includes all the numerous modifications and equivalents ofthat which is claimed. G5

What I claim is:

1. Ak device for inserting a ring into a hollow tube, comprising a framearranged to enter said tube, a plurality of feed rollers mounted on saidframe adjacent the end thereof and at an angle to the axis of said tube,means for forcing said rollers outward into frictional engagement withsaid tube for feeding contact therewith, means for supporting a ring inaxial alinement with said tube in fixed relation to said frame and back75 of said rollers, and means for rotating said frame whereby saidangularly mounted rollers feed said frame axially with respect to saidhollow tube.

2. A device for inserting a ring into .a hollow tube having an internaldiameter not greater than the outside diameter of said ring, comprisinga frame arranged to slide axially within said tube, a plurality of feedrollers having two ends rotatably mounted askew on said frame adjacentthe end thereof, the radial position of one end being xed in said frameand the radial position of the other end being adjustable therein, meansfor forcing said adjustable ends radially outward into engagement withsaid tube for feeding contact therewith, means for supporting said ringin fixed axial relation with said frame adjacent the spread end of saidrollers, and means for rotating said frame whereby said rollers feedsaid frame axially with respect to said hollow tube.

3. A device for inserting an annular ring into a hollow tube having aninternal diameter subistantially the same as the outside diameter ofsaid ring, comprising a frame arranged to slide axially into said tube,a plurality of feed rollers journalled in said frame each having an endin xed radial position and .an end in adjustable radial positionrelative to said frame mounted askew on said frame adjacent the endthereof, means for forcing the adjustable end of said rollers outwardinto expansive feeding engagement with said tube, means for holding saidring in axial alinement with and adjacent said expanded roller ends, andmeans for rotating said device relative to said tube.

4. Means forI inserting an annular ring into a hollow tube, comprising aframe arranged slidably to enter said tube axially, feed rollers mountedaskew on said frame, each of said feed rollers having an end adjustableradially of said frame, means associated with said frame for supportingsaid annular ring in axial alinement with and adjacent said adjustableroller ends, means for forcing said adjustable roller ends outward intofeeding contact with said hollow tube to describe a circle of diametergreater than that of said ring during rotation of said frame, each ofsaid rollers then being tangent to a spiral about the axis of saidframe, and means for rotating said frame. A

WM. F. JAMISON.

